COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9710, 4 January 1895, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Hebald Office, Thursday evening. TUB Stock Exchange opened to-day. after the Christmas and New Year's holidays, with a very firm tore. There was a fair mquiry for Insurance stocks, buyers offering £3 2a for New Zealands. £2 2s for South British, 18s for Nationals, and 17s for Standards. There are sellers of Auckland Gas at £11 10s. ' Taupiri Coal find buyers at 18s. Buyers of Northern Steam offer 3s lOd, with sellers at 4s. The mining market opened with a good demand for the various upcountry stocks. Local Quotations for Waihis are hard to obtain. Woodstocks were in good inquiry, and sales took place at from £1 to £1 la 6d, and back to £10s 6d. There was a good demand for Talismans, and sales are reported from 6s to Bs. Silver tons have been sold at 4s 9d, and there are sellers now at ss. New Bonanzas sold at Is 3d, and buyers still offer that price, with sellers at Is sd. Waverleys are enquired for at Bd, sellers Is. Sales of Retreats took place as 7d and 7Jd, and sellers now ask Bd. Ohere have been sales of May Queen at 3s lid and 3s 9d, and buyers are offering 3s 8d....... . The old phrase, that the English take their pleasures sadly, is inapplicable to New Zea-

landers, who, while inheriting all the sturdy natures of the Northern stock, leave troubles behind when holiday time comes round. No doubt the magnificent climate and equally magnificent scenery exercises a potent influence on the formation of character, which here appears more volatile, more sanguine, and with a more than dash of the speculative spirit that has made the race so triumphant in all tropical and semi-tropical climates. . This week commercial business is brushed aside as out of season, and to talk to a man about cemont wheu he is full of Stepfeldt, or galvanised iron and paint oil when his heart is in the Steeplechase, or in the pleasures of angling or yaching, is simply to court indifferent. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that we are unable to give our trade readers any item that is of interest until we have had the opportunity of digesting the mail reports. Local business is, for the present, void of the slightest interest. By the arrival of the mail we have the following advices of the tea market. Messrs. Rowbotham and Co., who are a reliable and expert firm, report :■— The improTement In prices referred to last month has been well maintain d, and 'he close of the year finds the leaf, in all grades and from all countries, at a distinctly higher lerel of prices than it was at the commencement of the last half-year. That this advance will not only he maintained, but considerably increased during the next six months, seems not only probable, but certain. A little speculative buHin«»s has been reported, but not nearly to the extent the circumstances warrant. The bitter experience of speculators when they have acted on the oft-repeated cry of " no more tea in Foocnow, during the past few years has kept many back from operating, even with prospects so favourable as at present. There will be no late shipments of tine Panyongs this year as there was last, and Indian and Ceylon teas are 20 per cent, higher ana likelv to remain so. Stocks of all sorts in first hands are unusually light, and, if the consump. tion of the colonies has not decreased, the lone-expected boom cannot bo very far oft. Ihe fact is, that the consumption of the world Is, for the first time for many years, equal to if not actuallv exceeding production. Supplies from China, both black and red leafs, have fallen off, and Russia and Western Asia have had to come on to the Calcutta and Colombo markets to make up their requirements. This extra demand has had an appreciable effect on prices in both these centres 01 production, and, being c-.e established, is pretty sure to increase. The United states have doubled their consumption during the past twelve months, and mav possibly double it again during IS9o. A Kooddea'l of this business is being done by re-export from London, but the direct imports are also increasing largely. There is no new country like Ceylon (from 1885 to 'DO), to increase the supply to the extent of SO.tiOO.OOOIb per annum, though India will continue to show a regular steady addition to her exports. Therefore, giving due consideration to these points, it is not unreasonable to expect a marked advance in th« average price of tea throughout the world, and blenders will have to make a choice between curtailing their profits or increasiug the selling prices of their registered brands. Cutting and Co., of San Francisco, report a very large business in salmon, due entirely to consumption and not mere speculation, but the supply is so large that it is apparently impossible to see any higher range of prices, either of Columbia or Alaska fish, the latter getting an immensely increased sale in all the world's markets. . In the Homo markets our special reports re gum, meat, flax, etc., give us no room for further comment. The produce section is entirely at a standstill. ■.

KAURI GUM MARKET. The following is the report of the gum market and ruling quotations, as furnished ' to us by the committee of gum merchants :— Poor Ordinary, which comprises weak and ( rough-coated pieces, pickings, and washed nuts, ranges from £20 to £26. Ordinary, meaning hard rough - scraped gum, varying in price according to the quantity of washed nuts, ranges from £28 to £.'35. Superior ordinary, meaning hard, unpicked range gum, price varying according to size, scraping, and freedom from weak pieces, from £38 to £45. East Coast, £58. Supplies for the month of December, 588 tons. Steady demand for good ordinary and East Coast, but transactions limited on account of the holidays. LONDON. Press Association.— Telegraph. - Copyright. London, January 2. The total quantity of wheat and Hour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,800,000 quarters, and for the Continent 080,000 quarters. Per New Zealand Loan and .Mercantile Agency Co. London, January 3. l - Bctter —Stocks heavy; market tirme Fine qualities New Zealand are worth from 94s to 100s per cwt. AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING ASSOCIATION. iNo. of ja I Paid La*t I « Company Snares; %up per s , Date. I Issued i wj Snare. I Banks— ' Tl£ «. D.i £s. <t.l N.Z.. old .. 100,000 5} 5 5 0 — I — ■«w .. 60,000 "j 710 0 — | — National ..100,000 7j 2100 10 0 Dec. 7 Colonial . 200,000 5 2 0 0 10 0 Dec. IS Union of Australia .. 60,000 75 25 0 0 — — New U. Wales 100,000 20 20 0 0 — — Insurance— New Zealand 100.WJ 10 2 0 0 3 1 0 Dec. 4 National .. 196,115 10 010 0 018 4 Jan. 3 South British 64,628 19 1 0 0 2 £ 0 Dec. 21 Standard .100,000 10 015 l 017 CNov.3o N.Z. Accident 20,000 1 0 6 0 010 6 Oct. 5 Loan— N.Z. L.&M. .. 820,000 10 110 0 — I — „ Prefarenct 200,000 3J 310 0 2 0 OjNov.lo Nat'nlM.* A. 100,0011 10 10 I' — — N.Z. A K.P. .. '.iOO.OOO 10 » 0 ''0 5 6:Doc. 11 Qas- I Auckland, old 15,500 5 5 0 oil 0 0 Dec. 11 „ new .. 13,74:; 5 210 0 512 8 N0T.27 Thames .. 9.950 2* 118 I) 1 0 OjDec. 1 Gisborne .. 12. <*"> 1 I « ii 110 6 Oct. 20 ( 1,000 10 0 0 Napier.. « 500 10 fi n 0 - — I 2,000 10 0 ( 10 0 0 Wellinsten i 15,000 10 6 0 » — — ( 10 0 nt._i »„»..- i. I 16.000 ■ 0 6 'i 0 — — Christen rck [ 16(KX) _. . 10 0 l.yttelton .. 2,000 5 6 0 0— — Paimerston N. 6,000 6 310 0 — — New I'lymouth 2,000 8 317 6 — — IIMBEKKauri'limber 160,000 22 0 0— — „ new 450.0C0 2 l S (' — — «HirriNß— Union U.S. .. 59,692 10 10.0 I - - N.Z. Shipping 59,68 a 8 8 0 li 810 0 N0t.21 DeTonpurt.S.F. 10,000 1 1 0 i< 113 0 Oct. 24 Cororaandel S. 3,037 110 0 — „— „ Northern S.S. 12,49* 1 4/t. 014<;0 4I) Jan. 3 „ ll*T> 104,289 14/6 0 7 f — — COAIr— Hikurangi .. 80,000 » 0 6 6 — — Taupiri .. 24,000 1 016 0 019 3 Dec. 6 TauplriKesVvt! 3,000 } 1 0 u — - „ now 16,215 ) 013 0 — We»tpoitCoal 89,300 4} 5 0 0 — — MISCKLLANK'IIS _ . ' N.Z. Drug .. 70,994 1 (J/420/- 019 9 Dec. 13 Auckl'nd Fibre 18,945 110 0 — Northern 800 l 12,e2V 1 013 6 — — I Union Oil .. 86,850 1 HUM 12 6N0T.28 Sharland*Co. 50,000 1 012 0 — Colonial Sugar 79,373 20 20 0 0 — — „ 2,490 20 10 0 0 — GOLDfIELDS— Thames. „ „, New Alburnla 50,000 10 2 0 0 2 0 NoT.2i Calliope .. 50,000 J 0 0 7 — —nn Cambria .. 44,700 10 590 011 N0v.29 North Star .. 45,000 1-6 0 17 — - N. Fearnought 60,000 I 0 11 — — Hazelbank .. 42,000 J 0 2 0 0 0 flDec.Zl St. Hippo, N. 1.. 86,000 1-6014 — — . City Dunedin 50,000 1 5/10J — — Junction .. 30,000 J0 1 1 — — Lone- Hand .. 50,000 * 0 1 0 — — May Queen .. 79,000 (I 111 0 3 9 Jan. 3 N.MoanaUiari 50,001) j 0 5 0 0 3 OjDec. ft Norfolk .. 60,0011 J072 00 0 Oct. 29 Orlando .. 40,000 5 0 10 0 04* Oct. 25 Victoria, N.L .. 120,000 J0 22 0 0 Dec. 21 Waiotahi .. 6,000 3 210 0 — — Monowai .. 60,000 J — 0 4 0 Dec. 24 Upper Thame*. Crown .. 80,000 1 1 0 I - — Silverton .. 40,000 402 S0 4 9 Jan. 3 Waihi .. ..150,000 1 I 0 0 ill (t l>ec. 18 Woodstock .. 66,000 J 0 4 3 1 0 0 Jan. 3 Cfolden Cross.. 24,000 110 0 013 0 Sep. 20 Grace Darling 60,000 J 0 5 C 0 0 8 Dec. 8 Portsea .. 60,000 J 0 2 1 0 0 2 Aug.,l6 Talisman .. 65,000 J 0 1 1 0 8 0 Jan. 3 Retreat .. 70,000 3/ — 0 07J Jan. 3 AVaverley, N.L. 65,0.0 2/ — 0 0 9,Jan. 3 Owharoa .. 75,"00 J0 0 2 — — New Bonanza 65,000 i 0 1 0 0 1 3 Jan. 3 Marraion ... — — — 0 0 6 Jan. 3 Kuaotwm. I Otama ►. 40,000 J 0 0 3 - | - Try Fluks .. 60,000 J 0 0 6 0 2 0 Dec. 24 Kapai-Verm'nt 100.000 I — »I* 2 Jan.3 Debentures— I Buyers.. New Zealand GoYernment 4J% .. - — City of Auckland 6% ... .. 106 -- Parnell Borough 6'/. 107* -- Devonport Waterworks f>\% .. ! 107* ! —

BUSINESS Done.—National Insurance, ISs 4d; Northern Steamship, 4s; May Queen, 3s lid, 3* 9d • Silvarton, 4s 9d; Woodstock, 20s. *21s fill, 21s, 20s Cd; Talisman, &s, 7s, 8s ; Retreat, Id, 7Jd; Waverley, Bid, Oil ; New Bonanza, Is 3d, Is 2d, Is 3d ; Marmion, tid ; Kapai-Verinont, 4s, 4s 2d. Buyers.— Zealand Insurance, C2s; National Insurance, 18s 3d ; South British Insurance, 42.i 6d; standard Insurance, 17s 3d ; New Zealand Accident Insurance, 10s; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Auency, preference, 30s; Thames Gas, 19* 6d ; Oisborne Gas, 295; Northern Steamship, 3s lud; Taupiri Coal, 18s 6d ; New Zealand Drug, £1 shares, 19s 3d; New Albumin, Is 8d; Eazelbank, 7(1; May Queen, 3s Gd ; New Moanataiari, 3s 6d ; Silverton, 4s Cd; Woodstock, 20s 6d; Talisman, 7s lOd Waveriey, 8d; New Bonanza, is 3d ; Marmion, 5d ; Kapai-Vermont, 4s. SELLERS.-Colonial Bank, 20s; New Zealand Insurance, 84s; South British Insurance, 445; New Zealand Accident Insurance. 12s; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, preference, 425; Auckland Gas. old, £11 10s; Thames Gas, 21s; Northern Steamship, 4s; Taupiri Coal, 20s; New Zealand Drug, £1 shares, J.os; Union Oil, 13s; New Alburnia, 2s; Hazelbank, Is; May Queen, 4s; New Moanataiari, 4s 3d; Norfolk. Is; Victoria, 6(1; Monowai, 4s 3d ; Silrerton, ss; Waihi, £6; Woodstock, 21s; Talisman, 8a 3d; Ketreat, 8d; Warer. ley, Is; New Bonanza, Is 6d; Marmion, 7d; Kapai-Vermont, 4s 3d; Try Fluke, 2s 3d. It. li ratkb, Chairman, 4 p.m., Thursday, January 3,1895.